Delaware’s Inland Bays are a precious resource enjoyed by generations of Sussex County citizens as well as visitors who annually contribute to a $7B+ tourism business in the area. The Inland Bays Foundation (IBF) was formed by a group of local environmentalists in 2010 to address the lack of progress towards restoring the Bays to their original “Fishable and Swimmable” condition and removing them from the EPA’s list of impaired waters.
While we have seen some improvement over the years, such as the elimination of most all of the single point sources of pollution — capped by the opening of the Rehoboth outfall in 2018, the challenges remain formidable and widespread.
The IBF Board and our members are active in supporting and amplifying the work of our allies in the fight for clean water in Delaware. More than 85% of the state’s waterways do not meet one or more quality standards and are considered too polluted for their intended use. IBF priorities include:
- Effective implementation of the July 2021 Clean Water for Delaware Act, which creates a new Clean Water Trust
- Holding DNREC accountable, particularly in regards to conditions in the Indian River as documented in the Center for the Inland Bays study of Mountaire pollution
- Securing full funding for cover crops in support of local farmers
- Advocating for a comprehensive health study in Sussex County to help determine the effects of drinking water contamination particularly in private wells
No matter if you visit for your summer vacation, are considering retiring to the area or are a life-long resident (who remembers swimming and crabbing in the Bays), please join us!
Together we can restore our Bays.
Best wishes,
Frances Hart, President, Inland Bays Foundation